An Episcopal education is an investment in your child’s future. We realize, however, that education costs are a significant financial commitment. For this reason, the school provides need-based financial aid for qualifying students in Pre-K 3 – grade 12 and accepts the Florida School Choice Scholarship. Providing need-based financial aid is an integral part of the mission of Episcopal.
At Episcopal, we actively seek to admit and retain talented and motivated students, regardless of their family’s ability to pay full tuition. Our comprehensive financial aid program is fundamental in making this goal a reality. We use a need-based analysis to determine what each family can afford, considering such important factors as income, assets, cost of living, family size, and siblings in tuition-charging schools. Episcopal uses a third-party company, Clarity, to determine each family’s financial need.
Our answer is simple: Yes! We know that some families hesitate to apply for various reasons, including tuition, the paperwork of the application process, or fear that a child’s hopes will be raised without enough aid offered. We encourage you to apply, and we’re here to support you through the process. Admission to Episcopal is need-blind, which means that a family’s financial situation does not influence the admission decision.
November 14, 2025 – Application and Required Additional Documents Deadline
January 16, 2026 – Financial Aid Award Notifications
January 30, 2026 – Application and Required Additional Documents Deadline
March 4, 2026 – Financial Aid Award Notifications
The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) programs give families of K-12 students a choice of financial assistance toward private school tuition and fees, regardless of household income.
The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA) gives families of PK3-12 students a choice of financial assistance toward private school tuition and fees, tutoring, and more. Children with one of 23 diagnoses including, but not limited to emotional, behavioral or intellectual disabilities are eligible to apply.
To apply, visit StepUpForStudents.org and follow the prompts. Once you receive your AWARD ID from Step Up for Students, email it to financialaid@esj.org. ESJ will enroll your student, and then you will confirm their enrollment through the Step Up for Students EMA portal. The school will credit your student’s account for the scholarship amount based on your selected payment plan after you have confirmed their enrollment. The school charges an administrative fee for processing the scholarship.
For more information visit StepUpForStudents.org
Notice to parents enrolling students under the FES-UA scholarship: Please note that our school accommodates students with disabilities in accordance with federal and local law. However, your child may not receive the types of accommodations or related services that your child may be entitled to receive at a public school as public schools have different obligations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IDEA does not apply to private schools. We are happy to have a conversation with you about the accommodations that your child may need and receive at our school.
Our school offers need-based financial aid. “Financial need” is generally defined as the difference between what it costs for a student to attend our school and what that student’s family can afford to pay, as determined by a third-party analysis and the financial aid committee. There is no “income cutoff” or other simple method to determine whether a family will qualify for need-based aid.
No. Admission decisions and financial aid decisions are made independently of each other. Episcopal fully supports all anti-discrimination laws and does not engage in any unlawful discrimination.
The financial aid award covers a portion of the cost of tuition. The award does not cover uniforms, books, supplies, extra-curricular activities, extended day programs, or other discretionary expenses.
Yes. Each student’s need is recalculated annually, so you must submit the application along with the other required documents each year for review by ESJ’s Financial Aid Committee.
We recognize that you have the freedom to make choices regarding your financial status. If only one parent works outside of the home, the Financial Aid Committee will recalculate financial need using an imputed, minimum income for the non-working parent. An exception to this policy might occur if the parent at home is caring for a preschool-aged child, a child with a disability, a seriously ill child, a parent or grandparent, or if there are other special circumstances. You should present these possible exceptions at the end of the application in the Other Consideration section before submitting the form.
Episcopal believes that all parents have an obligation to contribute to the expense of educating their children. Assets and incomes of all natural and adoptive parents will be considered in making a financial aid award. All parents and guardians must complete the application and submit the required documents in order for the school to gain a realistic picture of the family’s resources. If the custodial parent has not heard from the non-custodial parent for a period of time or the involvement of the non-custodial parent is not in the best interest of the student, the above requirements may be waived. A letter of explanation and verification from a third party, such as a judge or attorney, will be required.
If either parent has remarried, the committee will consider the assets and earnings potential of the step-parent in conjunction with the natural parent and keep in mind the step-parent’s responsibility to his or her own children.
Please refer to our ESJ Enrollment Policy for Separate Households for more information.
If a parent is in a partnership or a shareholder in an S-Corp, all 1065 or 1120 tax documents with all schedules, statements, and K-1s must be uploaded to the Clarity portal.
Questions? Contact the Financial Aid Committee at financialaid@esj.org.
